Korean dramas or Koreanovelas have become regulars of Filipino primetime TV. The first Korean-drama aired in the Philippineswas Bright Girl; it was followed by more famous shows – Descendants of the Sun, Love in the Moonlight, and My Sassy Girl are just three of the many K-dramas that stole the country’s heart. The Asian drama trend in the Philippines began with the airing of Taiwanese show Meteor Garden in 2003. But it was Korean series that eventually overtook the airwaves. But why? What makes Korean shows so popular? Here are five reasons:

City Hunter 2011 (Lee Min Ho, Park Min Young)

Descendants of the Sun 2016 (Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo)

1. Theme

Korean dramas contain family-friendly themes such as romance, friendship, history, and family values. All values that Filipino viewers share. These themes make it easier to watch Korean dramas as a family. While there are some action-themed series such as City Hunter, they only show a small degree of violence.

Healer 2014 (Ji Chang Wook, Park Min Young)

Moonlight Drawn by Clouds 2016 (Kim Yoo Jung, Park Bo Gum)

2. Storyline

The storylines of Korean dramas are not as easy to predict as local dramas and the pacing of the plot is much faster compared to local dramas. The Korean way of story-telling is new to Filipino viewers.

Goblin 2016 (Kim Go Eun, Gong Yoo)

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo 2016 (IU, Lee Joon Gi)

3. Production Design

Production teams of Korean dramas spare no effort in their craft. From the locations, to the set-up, and to the cinematography, they ensure that their shots come out beautifully on the screen. Scenes are displayed as if you are watching a full-length film. Take a look at Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Goblin to see how breathtaking they can be.

W - 2 Worlds 2016 (Han Hyo Joo, Lee Jong Suk)

My Love from the Star 2013 (Jung Ji Hyun, Kim Soo Hyun)

4. Characterization

It has to be said – Korean stars are attractive. Whether on-cam or off-cam, they look cute, especially combined with their sense of fashion. They make Korea’s fashion shine beautifully on-screen.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo 2016 (Lee Sung Kyung, Nam Joo Hyuk)

The Heirs 2013 (Lee Min Ho, Park Shin Hye)

5. Hallyu Phenomenon

‘Hallyu’ refers to South Korean culture’s rising popularity worldwide. As one aspect of its culture climbed, the demand for others, such as Korean cuisine, Korean songs, Korean fashion, and Korean dramas, increased in fame too.

The popularity of Koreanovelas have stayed strong for more than a decade. And because of these reasons, they will continue to be staples in Filipino TVs for more years to come.